Plagued by business issues, wavering quality, some would say idiotic features... it’s fair to say Gibson had lost its way. Receive news and offers from our other brands? Like the Traditional before it, the Standard ’50s is the obvious choice if you’re chasing a more vintage-y specification. It all seemed like it was going rather well for Gibson. The "fit and finish" is what you'd expect from Gibson and the tone is classic! The October 2020 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! It could do with a little bit of love, as we’ve described, but there’s certainly nothing major. The Les Paul Standard 50's has a solid mahogany body with a maple top, a rounded 50's-style mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard and trapezoid inlays. We caught up with the man himself to talk tone, finding beauty in corners, and why there’s something very special about a black sparkle finish…, The mysterious multi-instrumentalist, producer and guitar-builder discusses his recently released EP, why guitars should look cooler than they sound, and being a body double for Sacha Baron Cohen. Led by former Levi’s main man JC Curleigh, Gibson seemed ready to move forward, focus on making great guitars again and exorcise the ghosts of the latter part of Henry Juszkiewicz’s troubled reign. “We went for thinner binding generally in everything we’re doing in the Original Collection, including the SGs,” reveals the CMO. Upgraded from the recent Les Paul Studio Tribute, the new Les Paul Tribute model features crowns rather than dots and covered rather than uncovered humbuckers, while you also get the chunkier strap buttons that Gibson has used extensively of late. Besides its foundational two-humbucker voice, the new Standard … England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Sitting atop of the Original series are the two Les Paul Standards – the 50s version and the 60s – there’s also a 50s P90 model, but that’s fairly self-explanatory. Don't miss the latest deals, news, reviews, features and tutorials. From the Original and Modern Collections comes a pair of new production Les Pauls that might just prove less is more. Pickup heights are a little more random in places, but nothing that a quick adjustment with a screwdriver doesn’t fix. Many people will prefer its breezier sound, especially in an era where cleaner and more textural tones predominate. We’ve said it before, but try knocking back the neck volume to about 8.5 with the pickup selector in the middle position – it’s such an expressive voice for lead work and you don’t have to pile on the gain to get plenty of sustain and harmonic content to work with. ‘Don’t mess with the standard’ were words that fell on deaf ears in terms of Gibson’s previous management. The Les Paul Tribute’s plain maple top has exposed edges that create a faux-bound effect. The ’50s has a vibrant if slightly brash voice.There’s a lot of crossover to be found in the new batch of models. From upstart beginnings in the early 60s, Eric Clapton soon established himself as one of the decades’ most lauded players. A return to more the classic Les Paul Standard specs. Turning our attention to the Standard – which has much in common with the previous Traditional model – there’s a hard brown case this time, rather than a deluxe gigbag, with a handle that’s considerably more comfortable than they were in the 1950s, with more reliable clasps and plush red lining. A couple of years ago, we did a deal with the government of Fiji, so we’re in a really good position today, as we have several years of what I would consider to be lightweight mahogany.”, Vintage-style machineheads with keystone buttons adorn the headstocks of both models. The Standard’s figured top impresses at this price point, with the centre-joined flame maple shimmering under lights and much like an old LP, it can look almost plain from some angles and erupt from others. The 50's Les Pauls are the Holy Grail of electric guitars, and this model does a respectable job of capturing the mojo of the legendary 1959 model. When it comes to pick-ups, the ’50s packs the Burstbucker 1 (neck) and Burstbucker 2 (bridge) of the previous Traditional. If you’re particular about weight, however, especially if you’re buying online, make sure you ask. Simple things – better lighting and extraction, more efficient workflows – have already had a positive effect on the factory floor and when we visited, there was a buzz of positivity about the place and a palpable excitement about t… The August 2020 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now. Rightly, however, Gibson has retained many features that have been accepted by players – for example, weight relief and expanded sounds - that now reside in the Modern collection. At this year’s NAMM show back in January, however, a reorganised line was premiered that clearly addressed many issues from the old regime. The mahogany body is also weight relieved. The golden-brown hue of the Tribute’s player-friendly maple neck. This new compilation from Jack White’s Third Man Records is a treasure trove of 90s shoegaze and space-rock rarities from a set of Michigan bands indebted to the UK scene. The Les Paul Standard 50s has a thicker neck profile than the 60s. Back in April, we flew out to see Gibson in Nashville and witnessed first-hand the improvements that have already taken place under the watchful eye of new chief merchant officer Cesar Gueikian. By checking the boxes you agree to receive the following from us via e-mail. Country music superstar Brad Paisley has a new signature Fender guitar - an Esquire with a secret weapon. The 490R and 490T aren’t the pickups most loved by Les Paul aficionados, but the alnico II units certainly sound good in this context. }. He’s famously driven and single-minded, constantly seeking out great instruments and unique sounds to build a unique catalogue of stellar guitar music. 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